Court halts release of jailed MI militia members

A federal appeals court has stopped the release of nine jailed Michigan militia members accused of conspiring to overthrow the U.S. government.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati issued an emergency stay Thursday morning.

The nine were expected to be returned to U.S. District Court in Detroit to be processed before being released until trial but the appeals court keeps them in jail. The defense has until 5 p.m. to respond.

U.S. District Judge Victoria Roberts said in a ruling late Wednesday that she would not further suspend her Monday order releasing the militia members under strict guidelines, including electronic monitoring and curfews.

The defendants are charged with conspiracy to commit sedition, or rebellion, against the government and the attempted use of weapons of mass destruction.